I guess it depends upon context, to some extent, Branny. It could be offensive or arrogant, I spose. But it is certainly impolite and might well be a little bit rude or offensive.

It could be but isn't. It's just a question. It aims at what we have been talking about for a while now. Political correctness. People are trying to invent posh words for unposh things all over. Things and the state of things do not change by renaming it. It only covers up (for a while)

Och, to define what it is not, of course it serves to look at its positive meaning.

a.The science that deals with the promotion and preservation of health. Also called hygienics.b.Conditions and practices that serve to promote or preserve health: hygiene in the workplace; personal hygiene.

What I was trying to convey was that "scruffy" is not a sophisticated word (therefore not what sorrow wsa asking for.) It was slang, but has become absorbed into the UK form of the language by constant use (and, it appears, into the US form as well.) It is useful because it is a single word, whereas to make a remark about someone else's appearance sound inoffensive, one would have to use a phrase; e.g., "He does not look very tidy," or "Could you wear something smarter, please?"

For an innately polite and reserved nation like the English, it is very hard to make comments on someones appearance or personal hygiene without being thought 'offensive.'

(And I didn't mean that you were being offensive, Branny - I was just talking about the word, 'scruffy.')

Thank you, one more misunderstanding out of the world. What in the follow up I refered to is that I've understood now that there is a difference between hygiene and personal hygiene. Hygiene has strictly to do with health and health maintanance. Personal hygieneseems te be about appearance. New to me.

Thank you, one more misunderstanding out of the world. What in the follow up I refered to is that I've understood now that there is a difference between hygiene and personal hygiene. Hygiene has strictly to do with health and health maintanance. Personal hygieneseems to be about appearance. New to me.

Not really, Sheaba. Hygiene has but a subjective relationship with cosmetic beauty. Dig?

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